July 28

Psalm cxviii.—22. The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.

23. This is the Lord's doing: it is marvellous in our eyes.

24. This is the day which the Lord hath made: we will rejoice and be glad in it.

25. Save now, I beseech thee, O Lord! O Lord! I beseech thee, send now prosperity.

26. Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord: we have blessed you out of the house of the Lord:

27. God is the Lord, which hath showed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.

28. Thou art my God, and I will praise thee; thou art my God, I will exalt thee.

29. Oh! give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever.

Ephesians ii.—8. For by grace are ye saved, through faith; and that of not yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9. Not of works, lest any man should boast.

10. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

11. Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

12. That at that time ye were without Christ,

being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

13. But now, in Christ Jesus, ye who sometime were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

14. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

15. Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances, for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

16. And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby;

17. And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

18. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

19. Now, therefore, ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

20. And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone;

21. In whom all the building, fitly framed together, groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord:

22. In whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirit.

The commonwealth of Israel was the outward type of that spiritual community of which God is the head, and in which holiness is the life. By means of this was figured the government of God over a people obedient to his law, and devoted to his praise. The Gentiles, who followed other gods, were aliens from that commonwealth, and could have no part in its promises or blessings, except as they should become proselytes unto the house of Israel. But when, on the one hand, the theocracy had served its purpose as a type, and, on the other, the Jews had begun to boast this as their salvation, the walls of the material city were broken down, and the true spiritual

Jerusalem came forth as the household of God, embracing all believers. This commonwealth has its temple,—a temple built of living stones. The prophets, who had taught of the coming of Christ, and the apostles, who witnessed for his doctrine, his death, and his resurrection, joined in laying their faith upon Christ himself as the chief corner stone. On that same foundation all true believers are established; in that same faith they are builded together: so that, without distinction of name, race, or country, all who believe constitute one household, in which God himself abides, pervading every heart with his Spirit.

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 104, 196, 199.

Thou, Lord, only makest us to dwell in safety: therefore will we lie down in peace, and sleep. Keep us this night under the shadow of thy wings; grant us the sleep which thou givest to thy beloved; or, if wakeful hours shall be allotted us, may we remember thee upon our bed, and meditate upon thee in the night-watches!

O Lord Jesus, who hast invited the weary and heavy-laden to come unto thee that thou mayest give them rest! grant us, we pray thee, rest from all care and trouble, from all sin and sorrow; and prepare us by thy grace for that holy and blessed rest which remaineth for the people of God.

We bless thee for our fellowship with thy saints; and we pray for the whole Church of God,

that it may be one in spirit and life, in faith and hope.

We thank thee for this holy day,—its sacred memories, its blessed communion of prayer and praise, its comforting sacraments, its teachings and promises, and its immortal hopes. May thy Word abide with us to teach and sanctify us!

And bless thy Word, also, to all who have heard it: to the young, for their guidance; to the aged, for their comfort; to all, for their instruction in righteousness. And, O Lord! send, we pray thee, thy Word to those who have it not. Let thy salvation be known in all the earth: and hasten the coming of thy kingdom. And to thy name be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.